Reds: Tyler Stephenson is the heir apparent to Joey Votto at first base

Call it a hunch, but Tyler Stephenson‘s extended look at first base during Joey Votto’s absence may be a sign of things to come for the Cincinnati Reds. A catcher by trade, Stephenson has received four starts at first base this season and could be Votto’s replacement once the former MVP decides to hang up his cleats.

Expect Stephenson’s stint at first base to end once Votto returns from the injured list, but don’t rule out a spot start here and there when David Bell wants to give the six-time All-Star a day off. Stephenson can learn a lot from Votto over the next couple seasons.

Moving Tyler Stephenson to first base may be the Reds best longterm option.

Of course, the idea of Tyler Stephenson, who’s in his rookie season with the Cincinnati Reds, moving from catcher to first base has its disadvantages. The Reds really don’t have a treasure trove of talented backstops in their farm system. Though Jackson Miller, Cincinnati’s second-round pick last year, has a ton of talent, the 19-year-old has yet to make his professional debut.

That said, it’s not as if the Reds’ farm system offers a ton of potential replacements for Joey Votto at first base either. Michael Triana might be the best of the group, but the 21-year-old still has a lot to prove before making the leap to the major leagues.

A catcher moving to first base is not unheard of. Jonathan Lucroy, Buster Posey, and Yasmai Grandal are a just a handful of active players who see time at both first base and behind the plate. Even Johnny Bench played over 100 games at first base.

The Reds have never had a backup plan for Joey Votto.

Joey Votto in now in his age 37 season with two-plus years remaining on his contract, so it’s now or never for the Cincinnati Reds. Votto’s production has been in decline since 2017, yet the Reds have no viable replacement in the farm system.

If the front office fails to acquire a first base prospect via the 2021 MLB Draft or a trade, they’ll be forced to look to Tyler Stephenson upon Votto’s retirement or find a replacement through free agency. It’s rare that a quality first baseman becomes available on the open market, and certainly not one in the Reds’ price range.

Stephenson’s size (6-foot-4) is odd for a catcher. But to this point, it hasn’t seemed to affect his development behind the plate. Having positional flexibility is a fantastic option for any manager, so logging several innings at first base will only make Stephenson a more valuable player in the long run.

While I expect Joey Votto to be in a Cincinnati Reds uniform through the end of the 2023 season, you never can tell when an aging star will be ready to call it quits. At the moment, Tyler Stephenson is the Reds best in-house option to replace Votto, and that time may come quicker than some fans realize.